avatar by on March 22, 2013   •   39 Comments Organizing Your Home

Keep your ride in working order

traffic

For going back to the basics this month, we’ve dealt with your handbag, your beauty routine, menu planning, hosting a gathering, and single parenting. What’s a more obvious inclusion than your car?

I know that’s what you’ve all been thinking. When’s she going to include auto maintenance?

Quite honestly, I was wracking my brain trying to think of the best topic to add to this motley crue of topics. I wanted something different but still useful for most of us. When my friend Nicole suggested car maintenance, I thought that was brilliant.

I’ve asked my husband Kyle to help out with this post, because quite honestly, I can make the car look clean, but that’s about it. His contributions are a reminder to me that I seriously need to brush up on my Auto 101.

We’re a one-car family, and we want to keep it that way as long as we can. It’s essential to keep our one transportation unit in tip-top shape so that we can use it well. We’re not fancy car people (ours is ten years old), but a little upkeep can keep a car running smoothly for years. It’s how we’re able to save our money for other things we really want to spend it on.

Here are basic ideas for keeping your family truckster in tip-top shape.

[Read more...]

avatar by on March 6, 2013   •   94 Comments Organizing

How I keep my bag sane

Keep your bag sane

Next month, we’re going to do another Project Simplify. Remember that? It’s a series we do here in the spring, where we declutter, clean, and organize some part of our house—group-think spring cleaning, holding each other’s hands for accountability. It’ll be quite a bit different than in previous years (more on that soon!), but yep, you’ve asked for it, so we’re doing it.

But I thought it’d be fun this month to do some back-to-the-basics talk. We haven’t done this in awhile—short posts with quick thoughts about keeping life’s certain compartments a bit saner. We’re kicking it off today with bags. Purses, handbags, clutches, diaper bags—whatever you carry, let’s talk about simplifying them.

The first time I met Myquillyn, I was carrying a tiny thing of a purse; it was basically a wallet with a strap, and ever since, she’s jokes that i only carry around tiny purses. You may have the same assumption about me, but I only wish this were true. I hate clutter and needless stuff, as you well know, and I really don’t have much use for carrying more than I need.

Helpful reminders for keeping a bag sane and clutter-free.

But—I’m a mom, a writer working from home, and a mostly-functioning member of society. Try as I may, I can’t just get by with a tiny little wallet.

[Read more...]

avatar by on February 1, 2013   •   20 Comments Organizing Your Home

One bite at a time together: Create a chore system (project 41)

iphone-chore-chart
Written by Jeannett Gibson of Life Rearranged.

I’m working through Tsh’s ebook One Bite at a Time and hopefully you are too!  You can jump in at any time and follow my own journey!  You can even go out of order…I sure am!  Buy the ebook for only $5 HERE.

Chores are something we start early in our home.  My son took on the responsibility of feeding the dogs before he was even two.  Granted, we reminded him twice daily, but for the most part, he has been filling those doggy bowls with that big blue scoop for the last three and a half years.  

With a family of six, there’s just no way I can do every single thing that needs to be done.  I regularly refer to our family as a team…and a team we shall be.  Even for the not so fun parts.  Sorry, kids.  You’ll get over it.  Promise.
[Read more...]

avatar by on November 12, 2012   •   42 Comments Organizing Your Home

6 Steps to a Relaxed Christmas: order cards

Every year around now, I really start looking forward to the Christmas season. Pins are flying all over Pinterest, proffering more ideas than time for our family’s holiday season. As much as I love keeping the holidays simple, I also love making merry with fun, original, meaningful ideas.

And this is where the rubber meets the road. None of us are strangers to the irony of spending so much time pinning ideas that you don’t have the time do actually accomplish any of these newfound ideas. Nor are you unaware of the busyness our culture implies is required for the holiday season. You’re not a festive family if you’re not busy during Christmas.

I say no. I refuse to buy in to the idea that unless we’re nonstop filling our time with activities, we won’t have a memorable holiday. I want to spend my time snuggling with my kids, reading, baking, and in quiet worship. With lots of laughter.

That’s why we’re doing one holiday task a week for the next few weeks—because when you do them early, you have time for the stuff you really want to do. It’s all about creating a relaxed holiday spirit. Read all six steps here.

So what’s this week’s task?
[Read more...]

avatar by on August 3, 2012   •   39 Comments Organizing Your Home

One bite at a time together: Start cooking staples from scratch (project 26)

Written by Jeannett Gibson of Life Rearranged.

I’m working through Tsh’s ebook One Bite at a Time and hopefully you are too!  You can jump in at any time and follow my own journey!  Buy the ebook for only $5 HERE.

I‘m a big fan of making as few things from a box, can, or bag as possible so I loved the idea behind Project 26.  Over the years I’ve found that not only does the food taste so much better than anything you can buy pre-made, but it really doesn’t take nearly as long as you might think!

As long as you have the right ingredients on hand, you can usually whip things together faster than the time it would take to run to the grocery store and buy it.  (Not to mention the health benefits!)

I love making my own french bread.  Fresh, hot, easy…and your family thinks you’ve slaved away for hours.  You don’t have to tell them it only took about ten minutes of actual work on your part.  That can be our secret.
[Read more...]